Beetroot Burgers

_INGREDIENTS

• ¼ Cup Raw Quinoa + ½ cup water.
• ½ red onion chopped
• 1 tin black beans 400g
• 2 cloves garlic
• 250g grated beetroot
• 2tsp cumin
• 1tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1tsp vinegar
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 cup oats

_SUBSTITUTES

No beetroot, no problem. Try using grated carrots, zucchini, or sweet potato. All these vegetables are similar in texture to beetroot and can provide a similar amount of moisture and sweetness to the recipe.

_INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the quinoa into a pot with ½ cup of water. Cover with a lid, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and cook for 6-8 minutes till all the water is absorbed.  Remove from the heat and leave the lid on for 5 minutes.
   
2. To make the oatmeal flour, place the oats into a high-speed blender and blitz until flour forms.  Set aside.
   
3. Peel and finely grate the beetroot. Squeeze out any excess liquid.
   
4. Crush the garlic and finely dice half the onion.
   
5. Drain the beans and rinse with water. Mash the beans with a potato masher; it doesn’t have to be perfectly mashed, just slightly.
   
6. Heat a large-sized frying pan with 2 tablespoons of oil to medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, beetroot, cumin, and smoked paprika to the pan & sauté for 5 minutes, stirring often.
   
7. Add the mashed black beans, quinoa, soy sauce, vinegar, and tomato paste. Season with salt and pepper.
   
8. Transfer the contents of the pan to a large bowl and allow the mixture to cool slightly. Add the oat flour. When the mixture is cool enough to handle, use your hands to combine the mixture together. Use your hands to form 4 burger shapes.
   
9. Heat a large frying pan with oil and cook the burger on either side for 3-4 minutes.
   

TO ASSEMBLE:

Toast the buns, add cos lettuce, tomato onion, pickled cucumbers, whole grain mustard and mayonnaise. Get stuck in!

_{STORING LEFTOVERS}

• Store leftovers in a Tupperware in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• To reheat the burgers, simply heat them in the oven or microwave until they are heated through.
• You can also freeze the burgers for longer storage but be sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. They should last in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw and reheat frozen burgers, let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat in the oven or microwave until heated through.